Super Sunday for Hendrick Motorsports Raises Hopes for 2019

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 10: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, poses for a photo after winning the pole award with second place Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Rick Hendrick smiled widely and acknowledged that his team’s one-twothree-four sweep of Daytona 500 pole qualifying is as good an omen as his championship organization could hope for. He loves the historical significance and the present message about their preparation for the season’s biggest race.

Continue reading

Jimmie Johnson Wins in Rain-Shortened Clash

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 10: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The 2019 NASCAR season kicked off Sunday in a 75-lap Advance Auto Parts Clash for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. This race followed the Daytona 500 qualifying where all four Hendrick Motorsport drivers claimed the top-four spots. William Byron and Alex Bowman claimed the front row for the ‘Great American Race’ next weekend. The Clash field consisted of last year’s pole award winners, former Daytona 500 winners, all 2018 playoff drivers. It was a star-studded lineup of drivers ready to do battle.

Continue reading

Jimmie Johnson Wins Rain-Shortened Clash after Massive Wreck

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 10: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jimmie Johnson, who had crashed in the past six running of the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway, found a way to win the 2019 version of the season-opening exhibition race—by helping to trigger a wreck that eliminated nearly everyone else.

Continue reading

William Byron Leads Hendrick Sweep of Daytona 500 Qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 10: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, Team Owner Rick Hendrick, William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, pose for a photo after Byron won the pole award during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Paired for the first time with crew chief Chad Knaus, sophomore driver William Byron put his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on the pole for the Feb. 17 Daytona 500 on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), leading a Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the top four spots and extending that organization’s dominance in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway.

Continue reading